Postdoctoral positions - Utilizing the Nicotiana attenuata toolbox to understand how native plants survive in the real world

Over the past two decades we have created a molecular-ecological toolbox for Nicotiana attenuata, a native diploid tobacco that grows in the Great Basin Desert in the primordial agricultural niche (it’s a fire chaser), to understand how this native plant survives in the real world. The toolbox is composed of three support platforms (molecular, analytical and ecological) which includes state- of-art molecular biological, genetic and analytical resources comparable or better than what you can find dispersed across the entire Arabidopsis community, but also a field station located in a nature preserve in the plant’s native habitat in SW Utah, at which communities of transgenic plants, harboring silencing and over-expression constructs for plant and insect (for plant-mediated RNAi) genes are regularly planted to test functional hypotheses about gene function (for more information about these toolboxes see webpages starting at: http://www.ice.mpg.de/ext/molecular-ecology.html and click on the circles with the tool box labels.

We are offering: 3-year Post Doctoral positions (which are extendable for an additional 2 years based on productivity) for creative biologists and chemists with a track record of research productivity and independence to utilize the tools of this remarkable molecular/ecological toolbox to explore hypotheses about the organismic level function of genes.

We are particularly interested in projects that utilize our many RNAi lines that have already been screened and tested (rather than requiring the generation of new lines), particularly those involved in the plant’s endogenous clock and photo-perception (see the table in the molecular tool box for more details). While we are open to any exciting research question that helps to elucidate how plants function in the real world, we are particularly interested in projects that explore root behavior in a whole-plant functional context and opportunistic mutualisms that roots establish with microbial partners.

We offer competitive salaries according to MPG guidelines, a stimulating work environment, and excellent mentoring for your transition to a professorship or other position in which your science can flourish.

We expect: A PhD in plant sciences, entomology, microbiology, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, or ecology (preferably an interest in all of the above!); an inquisitive mind; excellent verbal and written communication skills; a publication track record, and a collaborative personality capable of taking full advantage of the awesome genetic, analytical and ecological resources that the Department of Molecular Ecology has developed for Nicotiana attenuata as a model ecological expression system. Please read Baldwin’s Scientist Creed for an elaboration of the Department’s expectations.

How to apply: Send your CV, a summary of your previous research experience, a statement of research interests and a short statement how they could take advantage of the N. attenuata toolbox and contact information for at least two references to Dr. Klaus Gase who will be conducting the initial screening for Ian Baldwin. Suitable candidates will be interviewed by phone, asked to write a short proposal, followed by an invitation for a seminar. The positions are available immediately and will remain open until filled.